We’ll resist attempts to stop students from registering – Benkum SHS

Teachers at Benkum Senior High School in Larteh Akuapem have vowed to get their students who have attained the voting age of eighteen to register in the ongoing voters registration exercise, despite efforts by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to prevent them.

According to the teachers, it is the inalienable rights of the eligible students to exercise their franchise in the November general elections and nothing will stop them from doing that.

Their comments come in the wake of the incident where dozens of students who had been bused to a registration centre were turned away allegedly on the orders of the Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Frimpong.

She reportedly ordered the headmaster of the School to ask the students who were in the process of registering some of whom had already taken their pictures to return to campus; a directive the headmaster complied with.

This action came immediately after the Municipal Chief Executive of Akuapem North; George Opare Addo reportedly visited the registration centre and raised objections over why the students most of whom he claimed were not resident in the constituency were being allowed to register.

He has since denied he had a hand in the students being denied the opportunity to vote.

However speaking to TV 3, Michael Odoi Kyene, who’s one of the teachers who accompanied the students to the registration centre, insists the MCE was to blame for the unfair treatment meted to the students.

He said he and his other colleagues will do their possible best to have the students enter their names on the electoral roll, despite any impediments that will be put in their way.

“How does the MCE know that these particular students are not from Larteh when he doesn’t know them? These students need the registration cards to vote, others also want to open bank accounts but because they no ID card of national acceptance they are unable to do so. Now that they’ve turned 18, this is the only opportunity for them to have their ID cards. We’ll try and get them exeat to enable them go out and register. We’ll ensure they have their cards,” Michael Odoi Kyene said.